International Review of Mathematics

International Review Home Page

Report 7 - October 2003

Over the summer we have been busy in putting together the details of the International Panel's visit in December. The overall structure of the visit is as follows, although some of the details may still change.

The Panel members arrive in the afternoon of Monday 1 December. That evening there will be briefings on the Research Councils and on the RAE.

Tuesday starts with another briefing, on the various ways in which the learned and professional societies support research, but most of the day will be spent on preparation for the visits to venues. The Panel divides into four sub-Panels, which travel to their first venues late on Tuesday afternoon.

At each venue there will be a working dinner on Tuesday evening. Then on Wednesday the morning will be taken up with short presentations covering the very best research. The programme for these is being proposed by the various host departments associated with each venue.

At a buffet lunch and during informal discussions in the afternoon each sub-Panel will have the opportunity to talk to young research workers, but by 4.00 pm the visitors have to leave for the next venue, where this cycle repeats itself.

Then, on Thursday evening the whole Panel re-convenes in London, for a briefing on the Royal Society's support for research in mathematics and statistics.

Friday starts with another briefing, on the role of research institutes in UK Mathematics, and a users’ forum showing how industry and commerce link to the mathematics research base. Then the Panel works on its report in earnest. This process continues right through until late on Saturday afternoon, by which time the main elements of the report should be complete and the Panel can then give a presentation of the main points to the Steering Group, sponsors and other key groups.

Work has also started on a document to be sent to the Panel before they visit us. This ‘data document’ is intended to contain all the background information on the people in mathematics and statistics, the funding processes, and organization and policies at a national level. It will also contain a number of ‘landscape documents’ describing the most significant recent research in the various branches of our discipline.

Please monitor the website for the latest developments. There is a contact point on the Review website for feedback (irm@lms.ac.uk). Please use this to send in your own comments and suggestions.

Stephen Huggett
Scientific Secretary to the Review